Error control terminal discovery and updating
AssigneeViaSat, Inc.
InventorAnil Agarwal
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Systems, methods, and devices for novel error detection and retransmission processes are described. These processes may be implemented on intermediate communication links between two end terminals, wherein the intermediate links are via satellite. Error control mechanisms to detect and retransmit lost or corrupted frames may be implemented at the network layer, or between the network and data link layers. Processes for discovering error control protocol-aware terminals are described. Features of these error control processes may include a configurable delay limit, tailored to traffic type or class.
Claims25
A system of discovering a terminal on a routing path to a first destination network address, the system comprising:
- a first error control protocol-aware terminal on the routing path to an end terminal associated with the first destination network address, the first error control protocol-aware terminal configured to:
- maintain a listing of associations between each of a plurality of destination network addresses and one or more error control protocol-aware terminals;
- process a data packet to be forwarded to the first destination network address;
- determine that the first destination network address is not associated in the listing with the one or more error control protocol-aware terminals;
- and
- transmit a probe packet on the routing path to the first destination network address, the probe packet including a first identifier formatted to be recognized by a terminal configured to be error control protocol-aware;
- a second error control protocol-aware terminal on the routing path between the first error control protocol-aware terminal and the end terminal, the second error control protocol-aware terminal configured to:
- capture the probe packet based at least in part on the first identifier;
- and
- transmit a response packet identifying the probe packet and the second error control protocol-aware terminal, the response packet formatted with information for the first error control protocol-aware terminal to update the listing of associations with an association between the first destination network address and the second error control protocol-aware terminal.
A method of discovering a terminal on a routing path to a first destination network address, the method comprising:
- maintaining a listing of associations between each of a plurality of destination network addresses and one or more error control protocol-aware terminals;
- determining that the first destination network address is not associated in the listing with at least one of the one or more error control protocol-aware terminals;
- transmitting a probe packet on the routing path to the first destination network address, the probe packet including a first identifier formatted to be recognized by a terminal configured to be error control protocol-aware;
- receiving a response packet from a first error control protocol-aware terminal on the routing path;
- and
- updating the listing of associations with an association between the first destination network address and the first error control protocol-aware terminal.
A method of error control protocol-aware terminal communication on a routing path to a first destination network address, the method comprising:
- receiving, at a first error control protocol-aware terminal, a probe packet transmitted from a second error control protocol-aware terminal, the probe packet destined for an end terminal associated with the first destination network address;
- capturing the probe packet to identify the second error control protocol-aware terminal, the capture based at least in part on a probe packet identifier included in the probe packet;
- and
- transmitting a response packet to the second error control protocol-aware terminal identifying the probe packet, the response packet formatted with information for the second error control protocol-aware terminal to generate an association between the first destination network address and the second error control protocol-aware terminal for error control.
A method of updating a terminal on a routing path to a first destination network address, the method comprising:
- maintaining a listing of associations between each of a plurality of destination network addresses and one or more error control protocol-aware terminals, the listing identifying error control protocol-aware terminals on respective routing paths for each of the plurality of destination network addresses;
- identifying an entry in the listing associating the first destination network address with a first error control protocol-aware terminal;
- transmitting a first data packet including error control data formatted to be captured by the first error control protocol-aware terminal, the transmission based at least in part on the identification of the entry;
- receiving a reachability packet from the first error control protocol-aware terminal indicating that the first destination network address has become unreachable from the first error control protocol-aware terminal;
- and
- updating the listing of associations to remove the association between the first destination network address and the first error control protocol-aware terminal.
A method of updating a terminal on a routing path to a first destination network address, the method comprising:
- maintaining a listing of associations between each of a plurality of destination network addresses and one or more error control protocol-aware terminals, the listing identifying a first error control protocol-aware terminal associated with a destination network address for an end terminal, the first error control protocol-aware terminal on the routing path to the end terminal;
- receiving a reachability packet from a second error control protocol-aware terminal indicating that the destination network address is reachable from the second error control protocol-aware terminal;
- and
- updating the listing of associations to remove the association between the first destination network address and the first error control protocol-aware terminal and add an association between the first destination network address and the first error control protocol-aware terminal.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.